ABSTRACT
This chapter outlines the role of acoustic environment in the perception of musical performance by first examining how the acoustic environment of a performance space affects a listener's perception of music. It goes on to investigate the ways in which sound is shaped by acoustic space, how this altered sound is in turn perceived by the performer and ultimately leads to the musician modifying his/her own performance in response. A richer understanding of the effect of acoustic space on the physical properties of sound, which plays an important role in the embodied cognition of music, will enhance current and future musical practice. The chapter describes future developments which flag up many exciting applications for this technology; allowing time-travel through auditioning spaces which no longer exist, facilitating musical collaboration across dispersed locations and providing a new impetus to shape musical compositions.
